Brian’s record speaks for itself and we aren’t buying in to any idle chit chat
DELANEY SWATS AWAY SPECULATION OVER CATS BOSS’S FUTURE
JJ DELANEY says he doesn’t buy into “idle talk” surrounding Brian Cody’s position as he eyes up yet another national title.
A win over Laois on Saturday, their fourth from as many League outings, sealed Kilkenny’s place at the top of Division 1B with a game to spare, meaning that they will contest the League final against the Division 1A table toppers, currently Tipperary, if they meet in the Championship later this year.
Along with 11 All-irelands, Cody has guided Kilkenny to nine League titles and it’s the 12th time they have qualified for the final under his watch.
However, with no All-ireland since 2015, there have been suggestions locally that Cody’s time at the helm could – or should – be drawing to a close.
Aidan Fogarty – a winner of eight Allirelands under Cody - commented late last year that another manager would “have his head on the chopping block” while Richie Power
Senior, a former team-mate, said that following the Allireland semi-final defeat to Waterford last year that
“the feeling around the county was maybe time had come for a change”.
With that in mind, is it an All-ireland or bust for Kilkenny and Cody this year?
“I don’t think so, to be honest with you,” former Cats Delaney insists. “You take the last couple of years, he got to an All-ireland final, he won a Leinster Championship last year there as well.
“For any other inter-county manager that’s a successful couple of years to be honest with you, there’s no point saying any different. Conor Phelan (inset) is in as a new coach there as well. They’re adapting their play, they’re going for a short game as well, just to show people that they can actually do that.
“I think the players are 100% behind Brian. Regarding their attitude, that will always be 100% and Brian will insist on that, that’s his biggest thing, that he would have a competitive Kilkenny 15 out there, whatever 15 that is, it doesn’t really matter, but the 15 that do go out there will kind of die in their boots to be honest with you to get the best out of this Kilkenny team.”
And Delaney doesn’t rule out Cody delivering a 12th All-ireland this year.
“Would I be surprised if they won one this year? No, I wouldn’t to be honest because he’s there at the helm, pushing guys forward. He still has probably the most talented hurler in Ireland in TJ Reid who doesn’t seem to be relaxing his skill levels.
“So once you have him on the field and Brian Cody off the field I wouldn’t be surprised what they do.”
Mixing up their gameplan with a shorter style of play will keep the opposition guessing too, says Delaney.
“If you look at the few League games from the start of the year, 100% they have (changed). Kilkenny have become a small bit predictable as regards long ball.
“They’re just showing people that they can go with the short game. Will they do it in the Championship? I don’t know but the opposition manager doesn’t know that either.”